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Protecting and
Improving Health and
Access to Healthcare
and Prescription
Medicines for Low
and Modest-income
Individuals
WHEREAS,
the length and
quality of life, and
the continued health
of all people in this society
depend on quality
healthcare and often
on prescription medicines;
WHEREAS,
the cost of
healthcare and
prescription
medicines may cause
access issues for
individuals of
limited means, and
WHEREAS,
about four in ten
Hispanics who bought
prescription drugs
in the past year had
a problem paying for
prescription drugs
and one-third of all
the Hispanics took
at least one measure
that could be
potentially harmful
to their health
because they could
not afford the drugs
they needed;
WHEREAS,
six in ten Hispanics
are concerned about
their ability to
access needed
prescription
medications over the
next two years;
WHEREAS,
it is in the public
interest for states
to exercise their
powers to provide
their citizens with
means and methods of improving
access to healthcare
and prescription
medicines;
WHEREAS,
states have the
ability to help
provide access to
healthcare and
prescription
medicines to many
consumers in need
who have either
inadequate or no
healthcare coverage;
NOW,
THEREFORE BE IT
RESOLVED by
the National
Hispanic Caucus of
State Legislators
that it is the
responsibility of
elected officials to
work to ensure
access to necessary
healthcare and
prescription
medicines for lower
income and minority
populations;
BE IT
FURTHER RESOLVED,
by the National
Hispanic Caucus of
State Legislators
that its members
dedicate themselves
to supporting a
thorough evaluation
of the status of
access to
healthcare,
including
prescription
medicines, by
Hispanics in their
respective states;
BE IT
FURTHER RESOLVED,
THAT the National
Hispanic Caucus of
State Legislators
strongly supports a
range of state
efforts to enhance
access to both
public and private
healthcare and
prescription drug
programs in order to
improve access to
those consumers in
need;
BE IT
FURTHER RESOLVED,
THAT these
state efforts should
include Spanish
language education
and outreach
programs to
facilitate
enrollment in these
programs;
BE IT
FURTHER RESOLVED,
THAT because the
ability of Hispanics
to access
healthcare,
including
prescription
medicines, varies
from state to state,
individual states
should craft
responses that best
address the needs of
each of these
communities;
BE IT
FINALLY RESOLVED,
THAT states
should share and
adopt appropriate
promising practices
from other states
that have
successfully covered
the un and
underinsured in
order to improve
access to healthcare
and prescription
medicines for all
consumers.
This
resolution was
adopted on November
17, 2007, at the
NHCSL Annual
Executive Committee
Meeting held during
the NHCSL 5th
National Summit in
Miami, Florida.
Sponsored by
Representative
Joseph Miro, DE |
